Elevated-track cycle



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m d o M 0 W No. 575,611. Patented Jan. 19, 1897.

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R MT RD E H A W E L E m d 0 M 0 W No. 575,611. Patented Jan. 19, 1 897.

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William UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. MARTIN, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

ELEVATED-TRACK CYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of" Letters Patent No. 575,611, dated January19, 1897.

Application filed May 5, 1896- Serial No. 590,363. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MARTIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county ofMobile and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Elevated-Track Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elevated-track cycles adapted to be propelledupon an elevated track as a means of rapid transit for businesspurposes; also for furnishing amusement and recreation to the riders;and the invention consists in features of construction and novelcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my improved cycle supported upon its track. Fig. 2 is anend View of the cycle and elevated track. Fig. 3 is a plan of thewheelframe. Fig. 4 is a plan of seat and seatfram'e. Fig. 5 is a View ofsprocket-gear and ratchet.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates one of a series ofposts, to each of which, near the top, is securely fastened a cross-beam2, having a track 3 at each end. The beam 2 is braced from the top ofthe post by guy-rods 4, provided with suitable tightening devices. Thetrack-rails are preferably endless, so that the cycle may becontinuously propelled in a forward direction.

The cycle comprises a front Wheel 5 and a rear wheel 6, each of which isprovided with a peripherally-grooved rim to engage with and travel onthe track-rail. For the purpose of connecting the traction-wheels 5 and6 there is provided a yoke-frame composed of horizontally-arranged bars7, bent inwardly toward each other at the center and having disks 8 ontheir ends. Between the inwardlybent portions of the bars 7, near thewheelrims, are secured braces 9, and a central bridge-piece 10 isattached to or supported by these bars at a point intermediate saidbraces. Extended over each wheel 5 and 6 is an arch-shaped strap 11,secured by rivets,

bolts, or otherwise to the disks 8 and forming therewith supports forthe wheel-axles, which may be provided with ball-bearings for thewheel-hubs, as usual.

Each arched strap 11 has one portion or arm extended down on one side ofthe wheel and inwardly beneath the track-rail, where it connects with adepending U -shapedframe 12, each end of which is twisted to one sideand bolted to the depending end of one of said arched straps.

At a suitable distance below the track 3 each arm of the U-shaped frame12 has secured thereon a sleeve 13, provided with a socket 14 to receiveone end of ahorizontallyarranged brace-rod 15, extended longitudinallybeneath the track-rail. On the rod 15, near each of its ends, is carrieda sleeve 16, provided with laterally-extended clampingjaws 17 to receiveand hold a vertically-adjustable standard 18, to the upper end of whichis jo'urnaled a peripherally-grooved guide-wheel 19, adapted, with itsfellow, to engage the under side or edge of the trackrail and brace thecycle against derailment.

As a means for supporting the driving-gears the depending U shaped frame12 has secured thereto sleeves 20 and 21, each provided with adiagonally-arranged socket 22, in which a diagonally-placed rod 23 issupported. Near its lower end the rod 23 is braced bya vertical strut24, seated in socketed sleeves 25 and 26 on the frame 12 and rod 23,respectively. The sleeve 26 supports the bearings for the shaft or axleof the pedal-cranks 27 and sprocketwheel 28, the said shaft or axlebeing preferably mounted in ball-bearings of any suitable or usualcharacter and which it is not deemed necessary to describe. Thesprocketwheel 28 is connected by a driving-chain 29 with a smallersprocket-wheel 30 on one end of a shaft or axle 31, mounted onball-bearings in a bracket or boxing 32, sleeved tothe upper portion ofthe diagonallyplaced rod 23 hereinbefore mentioned. This sprocketwheel30 is loose on the shaft 31, but carries driving-pawls 33, adapted toengage and drive a ratchet-wheel 34., that is fast on said shaft,provision thus being made to prevent a reverse rotation of said shaft byback action of the pedals. On the other end of the shaft 31 is secured asprocket-wheel 35, which is connected by a driving-chain 36 with asprocketwheel 37 on the hub of the front tractionwheel.

The arrangement of the frame 12 and gears 28 35 therein is such as toafford ample space for the seats for two or more riders. The two seats38 and 39 may face each other, as shown, and one is supported from theframe 12 and the other from the diagonally-placed rod 23, that alsosupports the driving-gears.

To support the seat 68, a socketed sleeve 40 is secured to the lowerportion of the frame 12 and receives a tubular standard 41, braced by astay'rod 42, secured to said frame and standard by means of socketedsleeves 43 thereon. In the upper end of the tubular standard 41 isreceived a seat-support 44, which, by means of a setscrew 45, may beheld at any required vertical adjustment.

To the under side of the seat is secured a rearward-projecting frame 46,that is flexibly connected by a hinge-joint 47 to a sleeve 48, securedonthe depending U-shaped frame 12 of the machine. A spring 49 is arrangedbetween the rod or support 44 and frame 46 to give elasticity to theseat. The devices for supporting the seat 39 from the rod 23 are of thesame character as just described for the other seat and are designatedby the same numerals, primed. By means of the hinged frames 46 and 46the seats 38 and 30 are effectively braced without obstructing a freevertically-elastic movement.

To assist in mounting the machine, there are provided two parallelfoot-bars 50, one on each side, supported from brackets 51, secured bysleeves to the lower portion of the depending U-shaped frame.

On the front and rear of the frame 12 are carried cushions 53, of anysuitable construction, designed to absorb the shock of impact in case ofa collision. These cushions 53 are supported by bowed rods or tubes 54,con- .nected by sleeves 55 to said frame 12 at points intermediate theattachments of the bracerod 15 and foot-bars 50.

The brake appliances consist of shoes 56 on the lower ends of arms 57,that have their upper ends pivotally connected tothe upper end of abrake-rod 58, passed vertically through a perforation in the bridge 10,between the yoke bars 7, that connect the traction-wheels. Eachbrake-arm 57 is provided with a longitudinal slot 59, through which thearm may have a sliding and pivotal action on a pin 60, supported betweenthe bars of the yok e-frame. The brakes are normally held away from thewheels 5 and 6 by means of a spiral spring 61, surrounding the upperportion of the brakerod 58, between a collar 62 thereon and thebridge-piece 10, so that the normal expansion of said spring will serveto force the rod 58 upward.

To the lower end of the vertically-movable rod 58 is attached acord orchain 63, provided with a handle 64-, hanging within convenient reach ofthe cycle operator, so that by pulling on said cord or chain the rodwill be drawn down against the expansive force of its spring 61, therebyforcing the arms 57 and attached brake-shoes 56 outward to bring thelatter in frictional contact with the wheel-rims and thus retard orarrest the movement of the machine.

It will be apparentthat instead of the crankpedals for operating. thecycle there might be provided an electric motor; or any suitablemechanical power may be utilized for propulsion of the machine. In orderto afford a slight play for the traction-wheels in turning short curvesof the track 3, their axles may be mounted in elongated bearings, asshown. These cycle cars or carriages will also be provided withconnecting links or couplings, so that a number may go as a train and berun by electricity, petroleum, or steam.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In an elevated-track cycle, thecombination with the traction-wheels, a frame connecting the axles ofsaid wheels, and arched straps extended over said wheels and downward onone side thereof and mounted 011 the wheel-axles, of a dependingU-shaped frame fastened to the depending arms of said arched straps,vertically adjustable guide wheels adapted to engage the under side of atrackrail and supported from a brace-rod extended between the upper armsof said depending frame, a diagonally-placed rod supported on sleevessecured to the lower portion of the depending frame, sprocket-gearin gmounted on said rod and connected with sprocket-gearin g on the hub of atraction-wheel, and one or more seats supported from said dependingframe, substantially as described.

2. In an elevated-track cycle, the combination with the traction-wheels,a frame connecting the axles of said wheels,and a depending U-shapedframe carried by said axles, of a vel'ticallyadjustable seat supportedin said depending frame, and a seat-frame secured to the under side ofthe seat and having a hinged connection with a vertical arm of theU-shaped depending frame, substantially as described.

3. In an elevated-track cycle, the combination with the traction-wheels,a frame connecting the axles of said wheels,and a depend ing U-shapedframe carried by said axles, of a diagonally-placed rod supported in thelower portion of said depending frame, gearing supported from saiddiagonally-placed rod and connected with gearing on the hub of atraction-wheel, one or more vertically-adjustable seats, one of which issupported from said rod and the others from the frame that carries saidrod,and hinge-supported frames connected with said seats to brace thesame, substantially as described.

4. In an elevated-track cycle, the combination with the traction-wheels,of a yoke-frame connecting the axles of said wheels and com posed of twohorizontal bars bent toward each other at the center and there connectedby a bridge-piece having a vertical perforation, a brake-rod extendedthrough said perforation and having a pull-cord on its lowerend,bra-kearms pivoted to the upper end of said rod and each providedwith a slot, pins supported by the under side of a track-rail andsupported from said brace-rod, and cushions provided with curvedsupports attached to the depending U-shaped frame at points intermediatethe attachment of the foot-bars and the bracerod that supports theguidewvheels, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

XVILL IAM H. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

R. O. REEDER, WM. L. BAKER, Jr.

